Method and system for transmitting and receiving pictures



July 24, 1934. ugHs 1,967,817

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR TRANSMITTING AND RECEIVING PICTURES Filed Jan. 22. 1932 Patented July 24, 1934 PATENT OFFlC METHOD SYSTEM FOR TRANSIII'ITING AND RECEIVING PICTURES 1 Harry FuchnBrooklyn, N. Y.

Application January 22, 1932, Serial No. 588,160

Claims. (Cl. 178-5) My invention relates to a new method, system and apparatus for transmitting characters, such as pictures or writing, by electricity, and more particularly has reference to means at the transti mitting end of the line for impinging characters,

I and substantially similar means at the receiving end 01' the line 'for registering the characters originally impinged, either through the agency of wires connecting the transmitting and receiving m ends, or by wireless electrical impulses.

One object 01 my invention is to provide a method and system wherein and whereby electroresponsive devices, connected in circuit and adapted to oscillate styli each of which traverses a transmitting or receiving surface, are synchronously energized by closing the circuit, thereby causing the styli to traverse their respective surfaces in one direction for synchronizing purposes, and to transmit and receive the image impulses when traversing said surfaces in the opposite direction.

Another object of my invention is to provide a method and means for converting the electrically conductive or non-conductive portions of the picture at the transmitter into sounds, and to reconvert sounds into chemical marks at the re ceiver.

Another object of my invention is to provide a method and means whereby oscillating styli operate switching mechanism at the ends of their lid strokes.

The above and other objects of my invention will be explained more fully hereinafter with reierence to the accompanying drawing to Mcpart of this specification.

This invention accordingly consists in the method, system, combinations oi elements, arrangement of parts and in the several steps and relation and order of each of the same toone or more of the others, all as will be illustratively described herein, and the scope oi? the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, I have illustrated in Flu. l, in perspective, a suitable grammatic showing of the connection of the sending and receiving apparatus.

Referring to Fig. l, 3 indicates a suitable frame or table upon which is mounted a shaft 4, carrying a roll of paper or other suitable material 5,upon which characters may be inscribed or impinged, the said roll of material passing between rollers 8 and 7, which may be suitably driven periodically 5 by any suitable means, so as to present succesform of sending apparatus, and in Fig. 2 a diesive zones or areas of the material 5 to the needle or stylus 8.

The picture or other characters to be transmitted is suitably positioned so as to be reflected by the mirror 9, upon the sheet 5, such for in- Q stance as the letter A, indicated by reference character 10 in the mirror, and shown reflected at 11 upon the sheet 5. The sheet may be made of insulating material, and it may be made of electrically conducting material, and the reflected outline 11 is inscribed with material of opposite properties. That is to say, it the sheet is nonconducting, the reflected outline 11 is traced with conducting material, or ii. the sheet 5 is conducting, the reflection 11 is traced with non-conduct- 7 ing material. Hand writing is-done with conducting ink on non-conducting paper, and of course typewriting is also done with conducting ink on non-conducting paper. 1

. Instead oi tracing the reflected picture or char-, 7 acter upon a sheet such as 5 as stated, the sheet 5 may be of material, the electrical resistance oi which varies according to the intensity or light, such for instance as selenium, so that by reflectihg an object, or by projecting the light through a transparency such as a negative, and allo it to strike upon the selenium sheet, when the needle traverses across the sheet in successively advanced positions, the point where the needle crosses the shadow thereon encounters diiierentmi resistance from that encountered while the needle is passing the light positions oi the sheet, thus producing impulses ugh the circuit in which the needle s mounted, each time a line or dot of the character is passed by the needle or 9d stylus. In such an arrangement however, in stead 0'! having the sheet travel longitudinally oi the device as shown, the sheet may be main-. tsined stationary while the successive or intermittent, or trave movement is imparted to 9d the carriage upon which the needle is mounted by any suitable and well mown means, such for instance as an intermittently operated ratchet mach 111 i The circuits and mode of operation of the deloo vice are more particularly as follows:-- Where used in a wire circuit, the switch 13 is momentarily closed, and current, from the battery 12 or other source i through line 14,15, 16, to the oscillating switch support 17', through oscillating switch blade 18, line 19, through electromagnet 20, and back by way of line 21, electromagnet 60, line 22, to terminal 23, switch blade 24, switch support 23, by line 25, to said battery 12. This energizes the magnets 60 and 20, which 119 attract their respective oscillating arms 31 and 26 to traverse the transmitting sheet and the receiving sheet 2'1 in unison or synchronism. The oscillating arms move within projections, (48,, 49 illustrated in Fig. 2) secured to switch blade 24 and switch blade 18, and at the ends of their strokes they strike said projections, causing switch blade 24 to disconnect from terminal 23 and to contact with terminal 29 instead and switch-blade 18 to disconnect from its terminal and to contact with terminal 17 instead, thereby switching the current from electromagnet and into transmitting sheet 30 through line 42 and from electromagnet 20 into receiving sheet 27 through line 33. The electromagnets having been thus deenergized, the oscillating arms swing back by virtue of springs 27, traversing the transmitting and receiving sheets in synchronism, the picture impulses being ttted by the electrical contact of the needle or stylus at the end of oscillating arm 31 (indicated by 8 in Fig. 2) with the conductive portions of sheet 30, the current passing through the stylus and oscillating arm and to line 21 by way of line 32 and 33. The receiving sheet 2'1 being chemically prepared,

such for instance as litmus paper, changes color when current passes therethrough, the current passing from line 21 to line 32 at the receiver, through oscillating arm 28 and stylus at end thereof in electrical contact with said chemically prepared paper or sheet, in accordance with the conductive portions of the transmitting sheet.

At the end of this return stroke, the oscillating arms strike the projections on the switch blades 24 and 18, causing switch blade 24 to disconnect from terminal 29 and contact with the opposite terminal 23 instead and switch blade 18 to disconnect from terminal 17 and contact with the opposite terminal instead, thereby cutting on the current from the oscillating arms and the transmitting and receiving sheets they traverse and resetting the instruments for another cycle 0! operation.

The cycle of operation is repeated each time the switch 13 is. momentarily closed as for instance by a timed interrupter, and it will be observed that the oscillating arms and their styli traverse their respective surfaces in one direction for synchronizing purposes, and transmit and receive the image impulses when. traversing said surtacesin the opposite direction. In other words, two electromagnets connected in a single circuit and adapted to actuate respective oscillating styli each of which traverses a transmitting or receiving surface, are synchronously energized by closing the circuit, thereby causing the styli to synchronously traverse their respective surfaces on the attractive strokes, and to send and receive the image impulses on the synchronous return strokes after said electromagnets are deenergized. Thus automatic synchronization and the sending and receiving of picture impulses overa single circuit is accomplished in a simple manner without the use of separate synchronizing circuits or delicate, costly and complicated auxiliary instruments and circuits.

' when the apparatus is used for transmitting without wires, the switches 35, 36 are closed. As the switch 13 is periodically closed at the transmitter, the battery 12 energizes the electromagnet 60 which attracts oscillating arm 31 and causes the stylus at the end thereof to traverse the transmitting sheet 30. Instead of the ourrent from battery 12 going over the lines 15 and 21 to likewise operate atthe receiver the electromagnet 20 and the oscillating arm 26 in synchronism therewith, it is shorted by the switch 35 to actuate the soundmaker 40, which for instance may be a high frequency buzzer. This sound maker 40 being now placed sumciently close to the microphone transmitting device of a telephone or a radio sending station will now make sound which will be received at the microphone 43, adjacent the receiving end of the telephone or radio installation. At the instant the microphone 43 is actuated'by sound its resistance drops, permitting current from the battery 44 to energize the electromagnet 20 through the closed switch 36. Both oscillating arms are thus attracted in synchronism, and at the completion of their strokes, they strike projections 48 of the oscillating switches causing blade 24 to contact with terminal 29 and blade 17' to contact with terminal 17, so that current now also flows through transmitting sheet 30 and its traversing stylus, and chemically prepared receiving sheet 27 and traversing stylus. The electromagnets being thus deenergized by movement of the oscillating switches, the oscillating arms swing back by virtue of springs 2'1, traversing the transmitting and receiving sheets in synchronism, the stylus at the transmitting sheet 30 contacting with the conductive portions thereof, and transmitting electric impulses which on passing through the chemically prepared receiving sheet 27 leave visible marks thereon. At the end of these synchronous return strokes, the oscillating arms strike opposite projections on the oscillating switches, thus opening the circuits through the transmitting and receiving sheets. This cycle of operation is repeatedat the periodic closure of switch 13, successive zones of the transmitting and receiving sheets being presented to the traversing styliyi From the foregoing it will be readily observed that the traversing oscillating arms are both attracted in unison, that at the end of the attractive strokes they deenergize the electromagnets which actuated them and switch current into the transmitting and receiving circuits including the styli at the ends of the oscillating arms and the sheets they traverse, and the electromagnet being deenergized, they swing back in synchronism through spring tension, thus synchronously T.

sending and receiving and recording impulses on the return stroke, and at the end'of this return stroke the oscillating arms open the trans-v mitting and receiving circuits so that the oscillating arms will be ready for. the synchronizing stroke when the circuits of the electromagnets are again closed.

Also for use with a telephone or wireless installation, the electrically conducting portions of the transmitting sheet are connected in circuit with a soundmaker, and the traversing stylus on coming in contact with said conductive portions closes the circuit thereby actuating the soundmaker to emit sounds in accordance with the electrically conductive portions of said transmitting sheet, and these sounds are conveyed over the usual telephone or wireless installation the receiving end of which-is placed adjacent a microphone in circuit with a local battery and my receiving instrument, the sounds causing said microphone to vary local electric current to operate the receiving instrument in accordance with the received sounds.

As an illustration of a suitable form of apps.- ratus which may be employed at the transmitprovided with wheels in place of the legs 47, so

asto allow said'table to be moved step by step along the supporting table 3, if desired. Upon the table 46 is mdunted a yoke 48,.carrying the magnet such as 20, said yoke providing bearing for the oscillating arm such as 26, having a pointer or stylus 8 at one end thereof, said oscillating arm being resiliently mounted by virtue of the spring 27, and adapted to swing between the projections 48, 49 of the oscillating switch such as illustrated at 17'.

50 indicates a suitable frame -or support for the standard 51, within which may be pivotally mounted a bracket 52 for adjustably carrying the mirror 9, or a suitable reflector for throwing the shadow or reflection of the subject to be copied or reflected upon the surface 5.

From the foregoing it will be readily observed that either by writing, tracing or reflecting the outline or image of the character or subject upon. a suitable surface, and with suitable materials,

the same may be readily transmitted through a telephone or telegraph circuit to a distant point,

or by radio by the interception of a suitable radio transmitting apparatus, the receiving apparatus being similarly constructed and wired to the sending apparatus and operating in synchronism therewith.

I am aware that the embodiment of my invention y be greatly modified within the equivalent limits, and I do not restrict myself, there-. fore, to the exact apparatus, combination of circuits, and interrelationship of circuits except as defined by the following claims.

What I claim is:

, i. In an electrical character transmission systenna surface, a stylus adapted to traverse said surface, electroresponsive means adapted to actuate said stylus, lines from a source of current connected to the electroresponsive actuating means and to a part connected to the stylus, and

, means whereby the current will flow through the electroresponsive actuating means when the stylus moves in one direction and through the part connected to thestylus when the stylus moves in anotherdirection.

2. In an electrical character transmission system, a surface, means for reflecting a subject thereon, a stylus adapted to traverse said surface and transmit the representation thereon, electroresponsive means adapted to actuate said stylus, lines from a source of current connected to the electroresponsive actuating means and to a part connected to the stylus, means whereby the current will energize the electroresponsive means to move the stylus in one direction, and means whereby the current will flow through the part connected to the stylus so that said stylus will transmit the representation on said surface when the said stylus moves in another direction.

3. In an electrical character transmission systern, a surface having a character representation,

" a stylus adapted to traverse said surface, electroresponsive, means adapted to actuate said stylus, lines from a source of current connected tothe electroresponsive actuating means and to a part associated with the stylus, current controlling means adapted to energize the electroresponsive actuating means to move the stylus in a direction, and to cause the current to flow through the part associated with the stylus when the stylus moves in another direction, and a sound making device adapted to produce sounds in ac-- and convert like characteristics thereof into electrical impulses, electroresponsive means adapted to actuate said recording means, and means whereby the electrical impulse actuating the electrorespo'nsive means and the impulses resulting from the cooperation of said recording means with said surface in one stroke, occur in sequence.

5. In an electrical character transmission system, a source of current, transmitting and receiving instruments connected thereto, each instrument having a recording device adapted to traverse and cooperate with a surface, electroresponsive means-for actuating said recording devices to synchronously traverse their respective surfaces in one direction without electrically contacting therewith, means for energizing said electroresponsive devices, means whereby the recording devices will synchronously traverse their respective surfaces in the opposite direction and electrically contact therewith when the electroresponsive actuating means are deenergized, and

means whereby an image traversed by the re cording device of the transmitter will be reproduced by the recording device of the receiver.

6. In an electrical character transmission system, a surface having unlike characteristics, a recording device adapted to traverse, said surface, electroresponsive means adapted to actuate said recording device to traverse said sur-'- face in one direction without cooperating therethereat, a base supported by said frame having mounted thereat a switch member movable between circuit closing positions, an oscillating stylus adapted to alternately bias said switch member to eachof said positions, an electroresponsive device adapted to actuate said'stylus, and means associated with said communication device for effecting exploration of said surface by said stylus.

9. An electrical character communication device comprising a frame, a surface mounted thereat, a base supported by said frame having mounted thereat a switch member movable between circuit closing positions, an oscillating stylus cooperating with said surface adapted to alternately bias said switch member to each of said positions, an electroresponsive device adapted to actuate said stylus in one direction and member adapted to deenergize said electronsponsive device after it has actuated said stylus and to supply current to said stylus and members in circuit therewith during the movement of said stylus 'in the opposite direction, and means associated with said communication device for eflecting exploration of said surface by said stylus.

11. An electrical character communication device" comprising a support, a surface mounted thogeat, current controlling means movable bepositions, recording means cooperating with said surface adapted to alternately bias said current controlling means to said positions, an

I electroresponsive device adapted to actuate said recording means in a direction and means adapted to move it in another direction, said current controlling means adapted to deenergize said electroresponsive device after it has actuated said recording means and to supply current to said recording means and members in circuit therewith during the movement of said recording means in another direction, andcurrent controlling means in circuit with said electrical character communication device for controlling the actuation thereof. 1

12. An electrical character communication de vice comprising a support, a surface mountedthereat, current controlling means movable between positions, recording means cooperating with said surface-adapted to alternately bias said current controlling means to said positions, an electroresponsive device adapted to actuate said recor means in a direction and means adapted to move it in another direction, said current controlling means adapted to deenergize said electroresponsive device after it has actuated said recording means and to supply current to said recording means and members in circuit therewith during the movement of said recording means in another direction, and means for effecting movement of said surface for exploration by said recording means.

13. An electrical character communication device comprising a base, a surface supported thereby, a switch member movable between positions and adapted to be biased to each of said positions, an oscillating styluscooperating with said surface, an electroresponsive device adapted to actuate said stylus in one direction and means adapted to move it in the opposite direction, said switch member adapted to deenergize said electroresponsive device after it has actuated said stylus and to supply current'to said stylus and.

members in circuit therewith during the movement of said stylus in the opposite direction.

14. An electrical character communication device comprising a base, a surface supported thereby, a switch member movable between positions and adapted to be biased to each of said positions, an oscillating stylus cooperating with said surface, an electroresponsive device adapted to actuate said stylus in one direction and means adapted to move it in the opposite direction, said switch member adapted to deenergize said electroresponsive device after it has actuated said stylus and to supply current to said stylus and members in circuit therewith during the movement of said stylus in the opposite direction, and means associated with said communication device for eii'ecting exploration of said surface by said stylus.

15. An electrical character communication device comprising a surface supported by a base, a switch member movable between positions and adapted to be biased to each of said positions, an oscillating stylus cooperating with said surface, an electroresponsive device adapted to actuate said stylus in one direction and means adapted to move it in the opposite direction, said switch member adapted to deenergize said electronsponsive device after it has actua said stylus and to supply current to said stylus and members in circuit therewith during the movement of said stylus in the opposite direction, and a sound making device adapted to be actuated by the contact of saidstylus with like characteristics of said surface.

16. An electrical character communication device comprising a surface supported by a lease, a switch member movable between pnsiti and adapted to be biased to each of said tions, an oscillating stylus cooperating with said surface, an electroresponsive device adapted to actuate said stylus in one direction and adapted to move it in the opposite, direction, said switch member adapted to deenergiae said clectroresponsive device after it has actuated said stylus and to supply current to said stylus and members in circuit therewith during the movement of said stylus in the opposite direction, and a aoimd sensitive device connected to a source of current adapted to operate said communication device in accordance with receivedsoun 17. In an electrical character 1 t on system, a surface having unlike characteristics, a stylus adapted to traverse said surface, electroresponsive means adapted to actuate said stylus, lines from a source of current connected to the electroresponsive actuating means and to a part connected to the stylus, current controlling means adapted to energize the electroresponsive actuating means to move the stylus in a direction and to cause the current to flow through the part connected to the stylus when the stylus moves in another direction, and a sound making device in circuit with the part connected to the stylus adapted to produce sounds in accordance with like characteristics of said surface when said stylus traverses said surface.

18. In an electrical character transmission system, a surface adapted to receive signals, a stylus adapted to traverse said surface, electrosive means adapted to actuate said stylus, lines from a source of current connected to the electroresponsive actuating means and to a part connected to the stylus, current controlling means adapted to energize the electroresponsive actuating means to move the stylus in a direction and to cause the current to flow through the part con-' nected to the stylus when the stylus moves in another direction, and a sound sensitive device in circuit with the part connected to said stylus adapted to register signals on said surface in accordance with received sounds. I

19. In an electrical character tron-system, a source of current, transmitting-and receivthe electroresponsive means being connected in ing instruments connected thereto, each instrument having a stylus adapted to traverse a surface, electroresponsive means for actuating said styli, means for energizing said electroresponsive whereby the styli will open the transmitting and receiving circuit at the endof their return strokes.

20. The method of character transmission consisting in causing a-current to actuate a stylus to traverse a surface in a direction, and diverting the current to transmit the characteristics of said surface when the said stylus traverses the said surface in another direction.

21. The method of character transmission consisting in causing a current to actuate a stylus to traverse a surface in a direction, and diverting the current to register incoming impulses on said surface when the said stylus traverses said surface in another direction.

22. The method of character transmission consisting in causing a current to actuate a stylus to traverse a surface in a direction, and diverting the current to convert characteristics of said surface into sounds when the said stylus traverses the said surface in another direction.

23. The method of character transmission consisting in causing sounds to control a current to actuate a stylus to traverse a surface in a direction without affecting said surface, and to divert said current to convert sounds into marks visible on said surface when the said stylus traverses said surface in another direction.

24. In an electrical character transmission system, an oscillating stylus, electroresponsive means for actuating said stylus, a surface traversed thereby, electrical switching mechanism movable from a first position to a second position and actuated by said oscillating stylus to alternately change positions, said electroresponsive means being connected in circuit with the first position, and said surface and said stylus being connected in circuit'with the second position, and means for energizing the electroresponsive means to actuate said stylus to traverse said surface.

, 25. In an electrical character transmission sys--' tem, an oscillating stylus, a surface traversed by said stylus, electroresponsive means for actuating said stylus to traverse said surface and means for returning the stylus to a position when the electroresponsive means is deenergized, a switch member movable from a first circuit closing position to a second circuit closing position and actuated by said oscillating stylus to alternately change positions, the electroresponsive means being connected with the first position and the surface and stylus being-connected with the second position, and means for energizing the electroresponsive means to actuate the stylus to switch electric current from the first position into the second position at the end of the stroke in which the stylus traverses the surface.

'26. In an electrical character transmission system, an oscillating stylus, electroresponsive means adapted to actuate said stylus, a surface of varying electrical conductivity traversed bysaid stylus, a switching member movable from a first position to a second position and actuated by said oscillating stylus to alternately change positions,

circuit with the first position and the surface and traversing stylus being connected in circuit with the second position, and means for energizing the electroresponsive means to actuate said with substantially similar devices in'circuit therewith whereby the stylus will cause the switching member to switch current from the first position into the second position at the end of movement of said stylus so that the stylus will transmit like characteristics of the surface during its return movement. a

27. An electrical character transmission system comprising a transmitting station and a restylus to traverse said surface .in synchronism ceiving station, carrier means connecting said stations, a surface at the transmitting station adapted to receive an image, a surface at the receiving station upon which the image is transcribed, electroresponsive means at each of said stations for actuating respective styli to traverse the transmitting and receiving surfaces in synchronism, switches actuated by the styli for alternately switching electric current from the electroresponsive means into the surfaces and their traversing styli, means for energizing the electroresponsive means to actuate the styli to traverse their respective surfaces in synchronism so that the styli will operate theswitches at the ends of their movement whereby the switches will switch electric current from the electrorespon- Sive means into the styli and their respective surfaces so that the styli will transmit and receive the image at their respective surfaces during the return movement of said styli.

28. In an electrical character transmission system, a surface the electrical resistance of which varies, current controlling means adapted to be biased to plural conditions, recording means cooperating with said surface adapted to bias said current controlling means to said plural conditions, and an electroresponsive device adapted to actuate said recording means, the said current controlling means adapted to deenergize said electroresponsive device and to supply current to said recording means when it is biased by said recording means to one condition.

29'. In an electrical character transmission system, asurface the electrical resistance of which varies, means. for impinging an image upon said surface, current controlling means adaptedto be biased to plural conditions, recording means cooperating with said surface adapted to bias said current controlling means to said plural conditions and an electroresponsive device adapted to actuate said recordingmeans, the said current controlling means adapted to deenergize said electroresponsive device and to supply current to said recording means when it is biased b said recording means to one condition.

30. In an electrical character transmission system, a surface the electrical resistance of which varies according to the intensity of light, current controlling means adapted to be biased to plural conditions, recording means cooperating withsaid surface adapted to bias said current controlling means tosaid plural conditions, and an electroresponsive device adapted to actuate said recording means, the said current controlling means adapted to deenergize said electroresponsive device and. to supply current to said recording means when it is biased by said recording means to one condition.

' HARRY FUCHS. 

